The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross

The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross is an
association of clergy intrinsically united to the Prelature of Opus Dei. Its
aim is to promote holiness among secular priests through the exercise of their
ministry in the service of the Church, according to the spirit and ascetical
practice of Opus Dei. It is made up of priests incardinated in the Prelature
and of other priests incardinated in their respective particular Churches. At
present there are about 4,000 members. Its president is the Prelate of Opus Dei.

The diocesan clergy who belong to the
Priestly Society of the Holy Cross continue to be incardinated in their own
particular Church. They depend only on their bishop (nihil sine Episcopo was an expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch often cited by St.
Josemaría) and are in no way under the jurisdiction of the Prelate of Opus Dei.

The Second Vatican Council encouraged associations
that foster fraternal assistance to priests (cf. Decree PresbyterorumOrdinis,
no. 9). As the Code of Canon Law (c. 278 §2) states, secular clergy should “hold
in high esteem especially those associations which…foster their holiness in the
exercise of the ministry...and promote the unity of clerics among themselves
and with their own bishop.”

The spiritual help given by the Priestly
Society of the Holy Cross seeks to improve the interior life of its members, encourage
their fidelity in carrying out their priestly duties, and foster the union of
each with his own bishop and fraternity with other priests (cf. St. Josemaría, Conversations, no. 16).

The means of formation the members receive
are analogous to those offered to the lay faithful of the Prelature, with due
regard for the specific character of priestly formation (cf. PresbyterorumOrdinis, no. 9; Pastores Dabo
Vobis, nos. 70-81; Congregation for the Clergy, Directory for the Ministry and Life of Priests). These are meant to
complement, without overriding, the dispositions for the permanent formation
the bishop gives for the presbytery of his diocese. Thus, the members can
receive personal spiritual direction, doctrinal and ascetical classes, days of
recollection, etc., organized so as not to interfere with their ministry.